JOURNAL OF AN ALIEN STREET PRIEST
Fr. River Sims
May/June 2000 There is a story told of a priest sent as a missionary to a far away island. He found the people so afraid of him they even avoided his presence. Nonetheless, the priest chose a spot where, each day, he celebrated the Eucharist. Day in, day out, he broke the bread and lifted the cup. Over time, one by one, residents of the island would enter the celebration, so that slowly, ever so slowly, he built a parish as he told the story of God's love and redemption through the words and acts of the Eucharist. His #action'' for God was one of "Eucharistic being" and from that being this priest ministered. This is how I see ministry:, being present in the moment, with the Eucharist as the center, again and again telling the story of grace. I'm often asked, "Where do you want to be in five years?" While once, like so many, I was full of plans for the future, now my answer is simpler: "In five years hope to be right where I am now, proclaiming the Gospel and celebrating the Sacraments in the midst of the poorest of the poor." I spent a good deal of my life planning for the future: getting the next degree, looking for a larger church, a better paying job, the next grant. In getting caught up in our societal myth of "future thinking," of looking for bigger and better" (and assuming they are the same thing), I often lost sight of what is the essence of ministry - being a presence of love, holding the hand of one who is hurting. In the past five and a half years, I have come to see the ministry of Temenos as one of "Eucharistic Being," or, in the words of Bernie Glasner, "Bearing witness in the unknowing." Such a ministry means simply living in the present with the Eucharist as the center of life. It means being open to the moment This sort of ministry has allowed 19 year old Dan - who popped up one day at my door to ask me to go to the movies - a place where he can talk about his years of abuse and drug use, about being rejected by his father for being gay. In these conversations, Dan has found some release, he has found acceptance. Being present in the moment also allowed 17 year old George to enter my life. His brother brought him fresh from Kansas to see the big dry and then dumped ~ George's mother is dying of cancer. We recently spent an afternoon hanging out. That night I gave him a hug and put him on a bus back to Hutchinson, Kansas. I missed two "important" meetings to do it, but I spent an afternoon with Jesus. Five years of simply hanging out, without an agenda! Early on, I observed young men and woman selling their bodies or giving away what little money they had for a dean needle. Out of that observation came our needle exchange ministry, a ministry that has saved lives and maintained the quality of health of thousands. When people ask me what my parish is like, I answer as did John Wesley: "My parish is the world/' most particularly where the young urban nomads gather. It is a church of simply being open to the Spirit. This Pentecost I invite you to put all future plans aside and be open to the Spirit. Simply be, and let the Spirit blow you where She will. Amen. WEEKLY PEACE ACTION Each month we will be offering four weekly suggestions that you might consider in your own journey for social justice and peace. (The source of these suggestions is PAX Christi.) For this month: Week 1: Meditate daily on Isaiah 65:17-25. Week 2: Borrow a book on peace and justice from the library and read it. Week3: Take a homeless person on the street to dinner. Week 4: Pray and reflect for one half hour a day on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-16). As you undertake these actions, pray for discernment as to how you can bring your life into a more congruent relationship with social justice and peace. CONGRATULATIONS The past five and a half years we have had the privilege of having many college and high school students participate in the ministry of Temenos. Some of them have been particularly consistent in their faithfulness and we salute them and give thanks upon their graduation: Adam Twell (University High School) Kevin Moss (USF) Matt Fitney (USF) Jessica Case CUSF) Jessica Davies (Stanford) Erin Levine (USF) Maria Bayog (USF) Kristin Taylor (USF) NEW INTERN Beginning on June 26% Sean Fenton, a Junior at Stanford University, will be our intern. Sean is an anthropology major. His main duties will be coordinating volunteers and catering and writing grants. He will also share in day to day ministry on the streets. WE ARE BEGGARS As we say so often, at Temenos we live in precarity, not knowing from where or when our support will come, but trusting God in you, God's people, to sustain us. We offer thanks to those who have stood with us in our ministry to the poorest of the poor over the past months: Order of Christian Workers, Mr. & Mrs. Milton MacDougall, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Williams, Mr. & Mrs. John Taillac, Mrs. Katherine Paredes, Edward LeBlanc, The Rev. Melinda McLain, John & Jill Kahnert, The Rev. & Mrs. David Travins, Jessie & Jodi Manibusan, and Stephen G. Dirkes. As well, Philip D. Allison, Sue Lynn Steiner, Kathleen O'Mally, Father Stephen Bartlett-Ré, Chris Seltzer, Sue Lain Hunt Graves, Laura Parsons, Rosemary Phipps Pfeiffer, Daniel & Maria John, and Marybeth Williams. Also, Adam Tewely, Tri Gamma Nursing Sorority, Mr. & Mrs. Russell Jorgenson, Mr. & Mrs. John Morrisette, Larry Holben, Roy Moss, Bruce Chatfield, Fr. Robert Mathews, Joan Nelson-Dills, E.M. Oyarzo, The Rev. Mother Carmen Valenzuela, Society of Christian Work, Susan Dean, Mike Serraddo in memory of his grandmother, Mrs. Osborn, an anonymous friend in government, Mary Monihan, Lisa Young, and Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. And, First Congregational Church, Bishop Stephen Burke, Michael & Judith Klamut, Brother Ronald F. Crepeau-Cross, Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Swenson, Dianne Torkelson, Mary Price, Old First Presbyterian Church, St. Anthony's Foundation, Catherine Regan, Tom Waddel Clinic, Harm Reduction Coalition, and the Immaculate Heart Community, Mary Beth Williams, "Hollis", Fr. Tom Jackson, Valetie Heine, Laura Cheifetz: Pat Christian, Sr. Bernie Gavin. The Rev. Cathy Bohrman, and Martha Courtot A WORD FROM A VISITOR In the early fall last year, three friends from Portland came to visit. Bev Townsley mother, pastor's wife - later put down her thoughts for a Lenten devotional booklet prepared for the Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon, where her husband is pastor. Three members of our family recently traveled to San Francisco to see how the homeless live. We wanted to know more fully the plight of those from whom we usually avert our eyes. One of us came up with the idea, and then it seemed to catch on unh2 there was no turning back. In the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, we gathered around a table in an upper room and served soup to those few who had climbed the stairs looking for blankets and nourishment. As I busied myself with the task of keeping bowls filled, I glimpsed a book being passed around. It was open to a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross. Not being one to miss a "religious moment," I grabbed it eagerly. But the Jesus on this cross had syphilis. His body was covered with the rash, sores and disfiguration of the disease. I recoiled in horror. The portrayal seemed offensive. This wasn't "my" Jesus. Always being the last one in our family to "get it," I asked: "What is this?" And then I understood. Jesus did not just die for our sins. He bore the suffering of all of us on the cross. And that includes those homeless, addicted few who were gathered around the table with us. As a Christ/an, I, too, am called to participate in Christ's suffering. I am not immune. In fact, I am called to know Christ's suffering and Christ's humanity as much as I am called to know Christ's joy, grace and divinity. After his resurrection, Jesus bids a disconnected and doubting Thomas, "Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Put it into my wound." Can you hear those words? Put your hand into my wound and know my suffering. Touch me and participate in this with me. loin me. What a powerful and transforming moment that must have been for a doubting disciple. Perhaps for us all well. SPECIAL THANKS TO: Marcus Mueller for allowing us the use of his car for three months; Mike Serrinso for 50 hours of volunteer time; First Congregational Church for providing Temenos with office space; Maria Bayag and Tri Gamma Sorority of USF for their sponsorship and gift; Lisa Young and friends for packing assistance in the move of our offices; Michael Berg for the gratious gift of the Millennium March trip; and A very, very special thanks to Matt Fitney and Brendan for help with the move and storage space.